“BE IN THE COUNCIL OF THE LORD BEFORE SPEAKING IN HIS NAME!”

“BE IN THE COUNCIL OF THE LORD BEFORE SPEAKING IN HIS NAME!”(Jer. 23:16-19).
“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They keep saying to those who despise me, “The LORD says: You will have peace.” And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say “No harm will come to you.” But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word?…The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart…I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message, I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to the people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds…Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dreams but let the one who has my word speak if faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?…Is not my word like fire, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”
False prophets prophesy false comfort, false assurances and give false hopes. False prophecies flatter sinners because the prophets do not want to hurt their benefactors. Jeremiah was addressing an exiled people. They longed for an early end to the exile so that they could return home.
False prophets assured them that everything will soon be fine. But Jeremiah laughed at them. He told them that their exile will last for seventy years. He asked them to get fully established in the land, marry wives for their sons and getting husbands for theur daughters, and praying for the prosperity of the land of their captivity. While Jeremiah was telling this truth the false prophets were prophesying lies so as to line their pockets. What a shame!
When God is angry with people because of their sins the prophets who are led by his Spirit should call the people to repentance so that God’s grace will bring his mercy upon them.
We are in a tight situation where to challenge any false prophet is interpreted as opposing or challenging the body of Christ. Far from it, a wound does not heal because we say it is healed; it is healed when proper medication is applied to it with adequate nursing attention. If God has not spoken to you, do not tell the people “The LORD has told me that…!”
God is not going to withdraw money from any bank to send to your mobile money account, but he will bless the works of your hands. God does not bless any sinful action; no matter how much wealth it brings to you.
May God in Christ give us the spirit of discernment so that we can distinguish between truth that brings abundant life and falsehood that can only lead to eternal doom!
Prayer: Holy Spirit purify our prophets and let them be in the council of God before they prophesy to us. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.